Garment-stretcher.



No; 700,595. Patented May 20, I902. J. H. YOUMANS.

GARMENT STRETCHER.

(Application filed July 18, 1901.)

(No Model.)

ATTORNEY n1: uonms PETER; co. wcn'muma, WASHINOYON, n. cy

JOHN H. YOUMANS, OF EAST TROY, PENNSYLVANIA.

GARMENT-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part 'of Letters Patent No. 700,595, dated May 20,

Application filed-July 18,1901. Serial No. 68,746. (No model.)

To all whontit may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN H. YOUMANS, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Troy, in the county of Bradford and Stateof Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Trousers Stretchers and Oreasers, ofwhich the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in clamping devices between the two members of which trousers are placed for the purpose of stretching, pressing, and creasing them; and the object of my improvement is to provide a simple and cheap device of this nature wherein by one movement the trousers after being placed in position will have the stretching and creasing bear thereon. I accomplish this object by means of the construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a plan'view of my device; Fig. 2, a side elevation, and Figs. 3 and 4: details showing features of construction.

Similar letters refer to like parts in the several views.

The device consists of two frames of wood shaped, as shown in Fig. 1, to conform with the shape of the trousers. The under frame A consists of two rather broad side strips joined together by slats a. These side strips are divided at the center and joined together by elastic straps B. On the under side of these strips I provide the guide-rods O, which are preferably formed of stiff wire rods, with one end fastened by staples to one half of the side strips and the other ends slidably connected with the otherihalf of said'strips. By this arrangement the two halvesof the under frame may be spread apart lengthwise, but cannot be bent or twisted out of their straight aliuement.

At each end of the under frame A are located two screw-eyes D at the ends of the side strips. Against these screw-eyes abut the ends of the upper frame E, which is of the slats 6. frame is also divided pressure brought to.

pins to engage the under frame A, after apart only a sufficient distance at the center, the two parts being united by hinges F, which are preferably of canvas or other suitable fabric, these hinges F, as well as the elastic straps B, being as nearly flush with the surface of the side strips as possible for obvious reasons. At each end of the upper frame E are fastened the rods ,G, the ends of which project so as to form the screw-eyes D, by which the upper frame is fastened to the lower frame. At the center of the upper frame on each side is a hinged clamp or fastener H, made of stifi wire bent into the form indicated in Figs. 1, 2, and 4, the ends of these clamps being secured to the side strips of the upper frame F by means of screw-eyes, which allow for the necessary play in said frame, as indicated in Fig. 2.

In operation the trousers having been folded are laid in their proper position upon which the upper frame is placed in the position shown in Fi 2, with the 'pins G inserted in the screw-eyes D and the ends of said frame abutting against said screw-eyes. The frame E is then pressed downward into the position indicated by broken lines, the two halves of the under frame being thereby spread apart, as is also indicated by the broken lines. By this means the ends of the trousers,.which are gripped between the lower frame and the ends of the upper frame, are stretched apart, thereby drawing the bags and creases out of the knees, and the upper frame is brought down upon the edges of the trousers,where they are folded, so that whenthe clamps H are swung under the side strips of the under frame A, as indicated in Fig. 4, pressure will be placed upon the trousers, so as to crease them.

It will of course be understood that the parts of the lower frame are to be forced to draw the creases and bags out of the trousers and not so much as torpermanently stretch-and destroy the elasticity of the goods. In'case the trousers are D may be screwed out a'turn or so in order to allow for the thickness, and for thinner goods they will be screwed in again.- The form of the side clamps H allows them to spring apart more or less, according to the of thickmaterial the screw-eyes thickness of the trousers, so that the device will be eifectual in pressing and creasing the trousers no matter of what thickness of goods they may be made.

Having thus described my device and without confining myself to the precise details of construction as hereinabove set forth, what I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A trousers stretcher and creaser comprising an extendible under frame made in two parts held together by elastic straps, a flexible upper frame made in two parts joined together by hinges, coupling devices at the ends of said frames whereby the frames are joined together and at the same time the ends JOHN H. YOUMANS.

\Vitnesses:

CHAS. L. FELLOWS, W. L. HUNTER. 

